Abstract

Giant magnetocaloric effect has been observed in , which is associated with field-induced metamagnetic transition from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic state. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change and adiabatic temperature change for a field change of are evaluated to be and , respectively, around within the temperature range of . The value of is even larger than other potential magnetic refrigerant materials reported in the same temperature range and also comparable to room temperature giant magnetocaloricmaterials exhibiting first-order magnetic transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state.